Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier provided the firepower while Ted Lilly provided the finesse, as the Los Angeles Dodgers continued their early season roll with a 6-1 triumph over the San Diego Padres Saturday night at Dodger Stadium.
Kemp hit a pair of two-run home runs off starter Joe Wieland, making his major league debut for the Padres. Ethier followed Kemp in the first inning with a solo shot, their first back-to-back home runs as a pair since April 16, 2010.
Kemp is hitting .457/.474/.971 with five home runs and 15 RBI through just nine games this season, and Ethier is hitting .303/.395/.697 with three home runs and 14 RBI. Kemp and Ethier rank first and second in the major leagues in runs batted in.
Lilly was activated from the disabled list and was brilliant on Saturday night. After leadoff man Cameron Maybin reached on a throwing error and scored on a two-out single by Jesus Guzman, Lilly completely shut the Padres down. Lilly retired 10 straight batters at one point and ended up allowing just two hits and one unearned run in seven innings, with a walk and four strikeouts.
The Dodgers are 8-1 this season, good for the best record in MLB. They go for the sweep on Sunday, with ace Clayton Kershaw on the mound, facing Edinson Volquez in a rematch of opening day.
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